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Automotive & Industrial Manufacturing Industries

Counterfeit spare parts can have fatal consequences—while also damaging reputations and revenues

No one wants consumers traveling in automobiles and aircraft whose safety is compromised by substandard parts. But according to the Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association, the global automotive industry loses US$12 billion annually to counterfeiting. To make matters worse, this in turn robs the industry of 750,000 jobs.

Enter the Internet, whose anonymity and global reach make it the ideal vehicle for trafficking in counterfeit and grey market parts on B2B exchange sites, online auctions and unauthorized eCommerce sites—undermining both the margins and the integrity of legitimate distribution channels. It’s equally frustrating that the scammers exploit brands built with tremendous care (and at great expense) to divert web traffic and disrupt the supply chain.

Driving away with their ill-gotten gains, these criminals leave legitimate brandholders with sagging demand, damaged channel relationships, and higher customer service and warranty costs—not to mention the staggering product liabilities involved when brakes, engine parts or other components fail.

Fortunately, automotive and industrial manufacturers can reclaim their brands, channels and revenues using the right combination of strategy, technology and vigilance. MarkMonitor® can help.

MarkMonitor at Work

A major industrial goods manufacturer protects their reputation and revenues by using MarkMonitor Brand Protection™ and MarkMonitor Domain Management solutions—shutting down online sales of counterfeit goods and throttling the brand abuse employed to divert traffic from authorized distribution channels.